Barbed wire stringing device



April 5, 1932 R. P. SCHMIDT BARBED WIRE STRINGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1931 mm; m

gwwnto o Fla/4m: PSaW/br Patented Apr. 5, 1%32' warran srares,

j I eeann v RICHARD P. SCHMIDT, OF OTTAWA, ILLINOIS f BARBED Winn srnrneme' nnvron Application filed February '14, 1931. Serial No. 515,815. I I

' This invention relatesto improvements in reeling and unreeling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for stringing and jpurpose of establishing boundaries, enclosing fields, andthe like. Where barbed Wire is so used, it' is extremely dilhcult and in many instances dangerous to handle. This is true to the extent that oftentimes the wire fence is broken down and the wire left to deteriorate rather :than taking down the wire N and reeling it for future use. i

"the provision of simple and .efiicientapparatus by which wire, particularly barbed Wi re,-may be unreeled from a roll or the like and strung-to form a fence, and thereafter, when 1 occasion demands, be again reeled, Wherebythe fence maybe put up, taken down, and {moved from place to place as necessary; A furthercbject is to provide an improved wire stringing, apparatus by which wire may be unreeled and strung under tension to form a fence. A further ob-- ject is to provide a wire stringing apparatus in which the wire roll is braked against free spinning or turning to thus enable the wire 33 to be laid or strung under tension. A fur ther obgect is to provide a wire reellng device I by which wire extending in lengths may be coiled on a reel or spool for transporting or for subsequent restringing. 1% further obect sto provide an apparatus for reellng and stringing wire, which necessitates" only one. operator, vthereby"materially reducing time and labor costs in setting up and taking down fences. a a Other objects will be in part obviousand in. part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the following analysis of this invention, wherein is illustrated one of the variouspossible embodiments of the present invention, together withcertain modificationsin de-.

tail.- In the drawings Fig l is a verticallongitudinal section through-my improved apparatus, illustrate ing the relationof the wire spoolto the car- Accordingly, an object of my inventionis riage, draft yoke and combined pull brake, and bar. I

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. i j

Fig. 3 is a side View of the spool structure. Fig. l is a further View of the spool. Fig. 5 is a detail in sectionof the wire roll adjusting means. i

Referring now to the drawings, I provide a wheeled carriage constituted by the Wheels 10, 11 and axle 12, the wheels being freely rotatable on the axle. A normally U-shaped' draft yoke, generally indicated at 13, has at the end of the side pieces 14, 15, thereof, en larged hubs 16 through which axle 12'extends. Cotter pins 17 or equivalent restraining means are provided in suitable apertures in tie axle and function to hold the draft yoke in properly assembled relation therewith. One side piece 15 of the draft yoke is hinged as at 18. adj acent the cross piece there of, and upon removal of its associated cotter:

pin from the axle, the hinged section of the side piece 15 may be swung from its normal! positionaway from the axle (asshown'in dotted lines, Fig. 2) to thus permit the wheel 10 of the carriage structure tobe removed from the axle forpurposes tobe hereinafterv described,

The draft yoke 011 its cross piece carries a 8L hinge 26, one leaf "of which is fixed with the draft yoke and the other leaf being bolted or I otherwise secured to a combined pull andv I brake bar 27. The bar 27 may comprise two strapirons 27a, 27b, spaced at their front ends for the receptionof a handle 30 which may be readily grasped by an operator. The other ends of the strap irons, which extend rearwardly, are spaced bya tool box 46 to the bottom of which the other leaf of the hinge 26 is secured andby a block 82, preferably of l wood, which extends beyond the ends of the straps and functions as a brake. shoe, aswill be hereinafter described more fully. The box 46 and the braking block 82am bolted or otherwise secured to the straps as at 33;

The spool or reel on which; the wire roll is mountable and from which it may be 1111- reeled is comprised of spaced sets of cross arms 35, 36 secured at right angles to each other by hub plates 37. Two sets of toothed slots 38 are provided in each of the cross arms 35, 36, the slots being spaced substantially equi-distantly from the center of the spool as defined by the junction of the cross arms. Extending transversely bet veen the sets of cross arms are a plurality of transverse elements having their end portions interiorly threaded for engagement with threaded studs or bolts 41 which extend through the toothed slots 38, the heads of the bolts being disposed exteriorly of the spool. In mounting a roll of wire which is to be strung on the spool, one set of cross arms 35, 36 forming one side of the spool is removed by suitable inithr ading of bolts 1-1 to permit disconnection from the transverse bars 40, and the roll of wire, which is annular in conformation, is threaded. over the bars to rest on the under cross arms, or other side of the spool, which may be disposed he i zontally. Thereupon the cross arms previously removed are laid on the coil and connection made with bars -10 as by threading the bolts 41 lightly into said bars. lly reason of the toothed slots 38, the bars may there upon be adjusted into a position to securely engage the interior of the roll, and the bolts 41 tightened, whereby the wire roll securely mounted on the spool and prevented from turning or spinning ith respect thereto.

Vhen it is desired to mount the spool carrying the wire coil on the carriage, the cotter pin 17 adjacent the hinged section of side piece 15 is removed, and the side piece 15 of draft yoke 13 is swung away from the axle, permitting removal of wheel 10. The spool is then threaded on to the axle 12, it being understood that the axle extends through the hub plates ofthe spool. The wheel 10 is thereupon put back on axle 1,2, the si le piece 15 of the draft yoke swung inwardly over the axle 12 and cotter pin 17 is inserted whereupon the wheels 10, 11 are properly spaced by the spool, the spool being ticreupon properly mounted wita respect to the carriage for the operation of stringing.

Itwill be understood that during the operation of mounting the spool on the carriage, the pull and brake bar 27 is moved so that the brake shoe 32 is raised, as permitted by hinge 26. Upon lowering of the bar 27 into substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1, the brake shoe 32 engages the wire coil, and the barbs of the wire are imbedded into the wood piece which consequently acts as a brake preventing the spool from free turning.

To string the wire, the free end of the wire coil is nailed or otherwise secured to a post, such as a corner post, and the operator pulls the carriage in the direction of the fence to be laid. As draft is so exerted, the end of the pull bar 27 carrying the brake 32 is J automatically toggled downwardly, the braking force exerted by the shoe of the wire coil being thus proportional and responsive to the draft force necessary to advance the carriage. This retardation of spinning of the wire roll thus permits the wire to be strung under tension. The operator, with suitable tools carried in the tool box 46, may, as the carriage is advanced, secure the tensioned wire to the post or posts forming a part of the fence structure.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 4:, it will be seen that the ends of the cross arms 35, 36 forming the spool structure are extended to form handle portions which may be readily grasped by the operator in taking down fence wire and coiling it on the reel or spool. The reeling of lengths of wire, such as encountered when taking down a fence, may be effected by securing a free end of the wire to a transverse bar 40 of the spool, and thereafter, by grasping handles 50 of the spool, turning the same about axle 12 of the carriage. As the wire is reeled, the carriage may roll due to the free mounting of the wheels 1O, 11 on axle 12, and the carriage is thus advanced, without attention of the operator, as the length of wire is restrung on the spool. I

After a fence has been taken down and the wire reeled as hereinbefore described, the spool carrying the roll may be removed from the carriage and stored, or the rolls may be removed from the spools and tied for transport or storage, or for further restraining.

Thus the apparatus as above described has the advantage that it requires only one operator and further avoids the possibility of the operator being cut by the barbs of the wire. By reason of the hinged relation of the pull and brake bar 27 to the draft yoke 13, the brake shoe 32 carried by the brakebar is automatically adj ustcd to effect proper braking whereby to prevent the spool of wire from spinning, regardless of the size of the roll or coil of wire mounted on the spool. The brake shoe 32 may be readily removed when worn and a new shoe replaced. The design and structure of the apparatus is such that the wire, either in stringing or reeling, is maintained at all times at a sufficient height from the ground as to keep it free and clear of dirt, weeds, bushes, and the like.

lVithout further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications withoutomitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

I claim 1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a carriage including an I rssaeaa axle, a spool carrying a roll of wire or .the like mounted for rotation on said axle, a draft member operatively related to said axle, and a pull bar flexibly connected to said draftmember and providedwith a braking element operative to engage the roll, whereby to pre- 7 ventfree rotation thereof. 7 i

, 2. In apparatus of the character described, 7 the combination of a carriage including an axle,- a spool carrying a roll of wire or the like 'mounted for rotation on said axle,'a draft member operatively related to said'axle, and a pull bar flexibly connected to said draft member and provided with a braking element operative to engage the roll, the braking force of said element being proportional to V tive to engage the roll whereby to prevent, free a rotation of the spool; 7

4. In apparatus ofthe character described,

the combination of a carriage including an axle, a spool carrying a roll of wire or the like mountedfor rotation on said axle, a draft,

emember operatively related to said axle,

, adjacent wheel from said axle, and a com-.

a pull'bar hinged intermediate its ends to the draft member and carrying at one end a braking element operative to engage the roll whereby to prevent free rotation of the spool.

5; In apparatus of the-character described, the combination of a carriage including an axle, a spool'carrying a'roll of wire or the like mounted for rotation onysaid axle, a

draft member operatively related to said axle, a pull'bar hinged intermediate its ends to the draft member and carrying at one end a handle, andat its other end a braking element operative to engage the roll whereby to prevent free rotation of the spool.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a carriage comprising spaced wheels and an axle, a draft yoke having side'pieces for connection with the axle, one of which is movable from such connection wherebyan ad acent wheel may be removed from the axle, a spool arranged for rotation on said axle, said spool being mountable on and removable from said axle; upon disconnection of the movable side piece and bined pull bar andspool brake operatively relatedto said yoke 7 In apparatusof the character described,

the combination of 'a carriage comprisingspaced wheels and an axle, a draft yoke having side pieces for connectionwith'the axle, one of which lsmovablefromsuch connection whereby an adj acentfwheel may be removedfroin the axle, a spool-arranged for;

r'otationon sa'id'axle, 'saidspool being mount-v able on and' Eremovable from'said .axle 'up ondisconnection of :the. movable side piece and" adjacent awhe'elt from' isaid axle, andwa;pull

bar having a hinged connection; with: said draft yoke for transmitting draft to the carriage',-11andIhperativezto exertia rotation retarding force on the spool.

'8. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a carriage comprising g spaced wheels and an axle, a draft yoke hav I ing side pieces for connection with the axle,

one of which is movable from such connection whereby an adjacent wheel may be removed fromthe axle,--'a spool arranged for rotation on said axle, said spool being mountable on and removable from said axle upon disconnection of the movable side piece and adjacent wheel fromsaid axle, and a pull bar hinged intermediate its ends to the draft yokeand .carryingcat one end a brake element operative toprevent free rotation of the spool.

9.: In apparatus of the character described,

a carriage comprising spaced wheels and an I axle, a spool mounted on the axle,a draft yoke operativelyconnected with said axle, a pull bar hingedly connected to said yoke, the spool comprising cross arms and members extending therebetween, a rollof wire or the like arranged on the spool, the spool being mounted for free rotation on said axle, and means operatively related to said pull hat and effective through said roll for imparting a rotation'retarding,fo'rceon said spool.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a carriage comprising spaced wheels and an axle, a spool mounted on the axle, a draft yoke operatively connected with said axle, a pull and brake bar having a hinged connection intermediate its, ends with said yoke and having at one end a handle and at the other end a brake element, the spool comprising spaced cross arms and transverse elements ext-ending therebetween, said elements being adjustable radially from the center of the spool, and a roll of wire or the like operatively held by said transverse elements between the spaced cross arms, the brake element being arranged to engage the roll whereby co-prevent free turningof the spool.

11.111; apparatus of the character dethe spoolcomprising spaced cross arms and. transverse elements extending therebetween,

' one or both of saidcross arms being removable from said transverse; elements, said transverseele'ments being adjustable with respect to the cross'arms whereby'to securely hold theroll, a draft yoke operatively con nected with said axle, said spoolbeing rotat- 1,ssa,eao

able on the axle, means operative throu the roll to retard free rotation of the spoo and the cross erms being provided with gripping handles It their end portions.

Signed at Ottawa, Illinois, this 2nd day of February, 1931.

RICHARD P. SCIDHDT. 

